Pictures: Roses to Add to Your Yard
There will be even more attention than usual paid today, Valentine's Day, to one particular flower beloved by millions: the rose. Roses receive Super Bowl-level attention during this special day, when love is in the air. Red roses, especially, are as synonymous with Valentine's Day as is Cupid. All this focus on roses will give gardeners plenty of excuse to contemplate adding a new rose to the landscape this year.
The pictures of roses in this photo gallery provide examples of some of the types of roses now available, by color. Many are All-America Rose Selections. If one of these colors doesn't "grab you," then you may well be color blind!
Movie trivia question (answer provided below): In what movie does the hero send the heroine an e-card in which a dozen rose blooms morph into 12 Pete Rose heads?
View pictures: Types of Roses
Put in your 2 cents: What Are Your Favorite Plants?
Bestow Your Wisdom on Us: How Do You Beat the Winter Blues?
Answer to trivia question: Fever Pitch
Photo ©2009 David Beaulieu (licensed to About, Inc.)
Rose Color Meanings: What Cupid Doesn't Tell You
For many of us, Cupid doesn't fly in on a conveniently early date to remind us to buy our roses for Valentine's Day. In fact, the chubby cherub is more likely to sneak in at the last moment and shoot us in the back with one of those mischievous arrows. Not only that, but for all his alleged acumen in the art of love, Cupid will be of no use to you in selecting the right roses for the occasion. For that, you'll have to conduct a little research into rose color meanings.
Discover how to send the right message to recipients of your floral gift by following a time-honored formula that spells out the meanings of roses based on their color. Armed with this knowledge, you'll be able to put even ol' Cupid to shame in the matter of the art of love (well, on Valentine's Day, at least).
The formula derives from the Victorian era, as Catherine Herbert Howell explains in Flora Mirabilis. If you know the formula, a rose becomes more than just a thoughtful gift: it becomes a carefully crafted message.
And beware of sending the wrong message with Valentine roses: the recipient may know more about the meanings of flowers than you ever imagined. That friend of the opposite sex whom you wish merely to cheer up on February 14th may take a red rose the wrong way!
Read article: Meanings of Rose Colors
Not to stir up trouble, but...: Do you have landscaping issues with your spouse?
Six Hills Giant Catmint and Little Titch: Edging Superstars
Most people who garden deal with more than just the plant kingdom in their landscapes. The animal kingdom, too makes its presence felt in the garden. Sometimes, that's a good thing (actually indispensable, in some cases); other times, not so much.
Consider the fact that we rely on bees for pollination. And while casual gardeners may take bees for granted, they sometimes go out of their way to attract wild birds to the yard, in hopes of catching glimpses of a colorful favorite. For example, many a shrub or tree has been planted with the idea of attracting this or that bird with its berries.
Of course, it's not all fun and games when the two kingdoms collide. We go to great trouble to keep pests out of the landscape, minimize the havoc they wreak, or address infestations after the fact. But the same critter can be viewed as a blessing or curse, depending on whom you ask and when. Bird watching enthusiasts may love to gaze at birds grazing at the feeder, but a gardener with a prized apple tree may take a dim view of birds swooping in and putting holes in the ripening apples! We may love them, but we cannot always exempt birds from our pest-control agenda.
Similarly, having pets in the yard can be a double-edge sword. On the minus side, large dogs can quickly make a muddy mess of a lawn. On the positive side, I get a kick out of watching a cat respond to contact with Nepeta. But when you hear Nepeta, do not think only of "catnip." There are many different kinds of catmint used for ornamental purposes in landscaping. Six Hills Giant Catmint is one of them; another is the ever-so-cute Little Titch. Click the links below to learn more about these superior edging plants.
Read article: Six Hills Giant Catmint
Read article: Little Titch Catmint
Put in your 2 cents: Do You Avoid Plastic Edging Like the Plague?
Bestow Your Wisdom on Us: How Do You Beat the Winter Blues?
Easter Lilies: Thinking "Spring" on a Winter's Day
Punxsutawney Phil has delivered his prognostication, so now we can turn our thoughts to spring. Not that I'm ever concerned about the clairvoyant critter's actual prediction. But if winter has a "hump day," it's February 2 -- the calendrical midpoint of Old Man Winter's icy reign. 
So with Groundhog Day in the rear-view mirror, it's time to start thinking "spring." And what better plant to kick off such musings with than the Easter lily?
Not that Lilium longiflorum has always been a symbol of the upcoming season. Heck, not that long ago, it wasn't even called the "Easter lily." As the University of Vermont Extension points out, the plant was initially called the "Bermuda lily." Why? Discovered in Japan's Ryukyu Islands by one of Europe's famous plant explorers in the late 18th century, it made its way to England by the early 19th century and, from there, to the British colony of Bermuda. The weather in Bermuda suited the plant, and commercial production began; that production ceased due to a virus, but the name stuck.
When you receive an Easter lily as a gift, do you ponder the possibility of planting it outside later? Or maybe you've already tried planting Easter lilies outdoors but have been displeased with the results? Either way, I think you'll find this article helpful. Learn about the growing conditions that Easter lilies prefer, as well as some of the challenges to be aware of.
Read article: Planting Easter Lilies
Put in your 2 cents: What Are Your Favorite Plants for March?
More: Deer-Resistant Bulbs
Photo ©2011 David Beaulieu (licensed to About, Inc.)
Did the Groundhog See His Shadow?
Who is Punxsutawney Phil? And why do we ask whether he saw his shadow? For those who have never watched the movie, Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil is the name of the famous groundhog in Punxsutawney, PA who annually predicts when spring will come based on whether he sees his shadow on February 2.
This morning, February 2, 2012, Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow when he came out of his burrow for breakfast. Of course, what that really means is that his handlers, in their infinite wisdom, decided, for whatever mysterious reasons, that this would be a "shadow year."
But for me, there are two entirely separate aspects to Groundhog Day. We might term these two aspects the entertainment side and the psychological side. The festivities at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, where we learn whether or not Phil saw his shadow, is the entertainment side. I'm much more interested in the psychological aspect of Groundhog Day. Falling as it does half-way between the winter solstice and spring equinox, Groundhog Day's true significance has nothing to do with Phil's shadowy antics. In acknowledging that we've reached winter's midpoint on February 2, we can permit ourselves a deep breath, confident that, regardless of Phil's prediction, spring is now in sight.
Read article: Groundhog Day
Let us know your view: Groundhog Day -- Hope or Hooey?
Bulbs That Deer Don't Eat
Picture stepping out into the yard on a chilly day in early spring. Most of the snow is gone, but the bare earth, the gray or brown limbs of trees and shrubs, and the overcast sky all work together to put a damper on your spirits.
You're just about to give up hope that winter will ever loosen its icy grip when, out of the corner of your eye, you espy something in your perennial bed that wasn't there yesterday. Defiant of the mud you must traipse through for a closer look, you walk over to the newcomer to inspect it, your expectations raised to a fever pitch.
Nor are you disappointed when you arrive. The existence of what you thought you glimpsed is verified; it was no mirage, hatched in your winter-weary head. No, it is, indeed, that old friend you've been waiting to see for so long, a sight for sore eyes after being lashed by snow, ice and cold winter winds for months: your favorite bulb plant is poking through the surface!
The bulbs of early spring aren't just ordinary plants. If you can relate to the scene I just painted for you, then you know that. Their precociousness places them on a plateau elevated well above other specimens, no matter how beautiful the latter may be. Beauty is one thing; timeliness is another. Spring bulbs reappear in our lives just when we need them most.
Consequently, while I hate to see deer damage on any plants in my landscape, I'm especially bothered by damage inflicted on these treasures. After anticipating the return of spring bulbs for months, it is heartbreaking to see them devoured before they can even finish yielding their sweet joys to us. One way to address this issue is simply to plant bulbs that deer don't eat.
Read article: Deer-Resistant Bulbs
Put in your 2 cents: What Are Your Favorite Plants?
Bestow Your Wisdom on Us: What Are the First Signs of Spring in Your Region?
Photo ©2010 David Beaulieu (licensed to About, Inc.)
Flowers That Smell Like Chocolate Make Me Think of....
Being the plant-lover that I am, it's difficult to get my mind off of plants once I start thinking of them. In fact, a far more likely scenario is that, when pondering a topic totally unrelated to plants, my mind will wander to the subject of gardening or landscaping.
But I must admit that when reading Jamie McIntosh's article about flowers that smell like chocolate, my thoughts drifted to all the wonderful chocolate products out there. If you, too are a chocoholic, you might want to have a look at Linda Larsen's Top 10 Candy Recipes, the dominant ingredient in which is chocolate. Linda's recipes will have you ready to celebrate the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday, for which chocolate is king among the foods (any holiday that honors chocolate is a celebration for me!).
What's my favorite chocolate product of all time? I don't know; I'd be very hard-pressed to come up with an answer to that. There are just so many great chocolate candies, ranging from Mars bars and Snickers bars to Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Turtles. Asking me to pick one favorite would be like asking me to crown just one landscape plant as my favorite -- impossible!
Resource related to Valentine's Day: Rose Color Meanings
On a totally unrelated note: What common weeds do you consider beneficial?
Barbarians Are Not Always Ugly
Americans who haven't taken the advice of the well-known bumper sticker that proclaims, "Kill Your Television!" have very likely seen the Capital One TV ads that show some scruffy-looking barbarians invading and rampaging their way across the screen. I hope people don't extrapolate from these ads that barbaric invaders are always ugly. Many of the invasive plants at war with our native fauna are anything but that.
When you hear "invasive plant," you may think of something like kudzu. Not exactly a real "looker," is it? Nothing about the way kudzu looks would tempt you to plant some in your landscaping or show tolerance toward an existing patch of it. Unfortunately, as we survey the lineup of invasive plants, any correlation between looks and potential for invasiveness breaks down.
Today I want to share a resource that supplies photos of invasive plants, to aid you in identifying some of the "beautiful barbarians," if you will. My selections, which are as follows, are by no means meant to be exhaustive:
- Norway maples
- Silk trees
- Water reeds
- Creeping jenny
- Ajuga
- Vinca minor
- St. John's wort
- Dame's rocket
- Butter-and-eggs
- Common evening primrose
- Purple loosestrife
- Common ivy
- Trumpet creeper
- Privet
- Oriental bittersweet
- Bird's-foot trefoil
Read article: Invasive Plant Pictures
Hardscape Ideas With Kids in Mind
I don't have fond memories of hardscape as a child. My knees seemed always to find a way to become skinned when I was around pavement. Whether it was due to a fall at recess when in school, or due to wiping out when biking on vacation, scabs weren't shy about keeping my knees company.
But Joe Norton says that scraped knees and knuckles don't always have to go hand-in-hand with hardscape. On Page 3 of this article on hardscape ideas with kids in mind, Joe shows a cool tunnel leading into a garden. The tunnel was made specifically to arouse kids' interest in the garden.
On Page 2 of the same article, the focus is on a mixed-hardscape feature that will capture children's imagination. Says Joe: "Kids love the different textures and colors that these materials provide." It's not as knee-friendly as the tunnel project but still well worth the trouble.
Read article: Hardscape Ideas for Children
Groundhog Day 2012
is right around the corner. Let's be blunt. When it comes to Groundhog Day, there are two vocal camps -- one of which holds Groundhog Day to be the most insipid of holidays. I belong to the other camp, myself, and watch Groundhog Day on DVD religiously ever year. Groundhog Day 2012 will be no exception.
This article begins by discussing control measures you can take to prevent marauding woodchucks from devouring your garden. I then proceed to sketch Groundhog Day's historical background, before concluding with my thoughts on why Groundhog Day even matters, at all -- from a psychological perspective.
Bookmark "Did the Groundhog See His Shadow?" where, the morning of February 2, I'll post the answer for 2012.
Read article: Groundhog Day 2012
Bestow Your Wisdom on Us: How Do You Beat the Winter Blues?
Get My Twitter Updates
Photo courtesy PunxsutawneyPhil.com